Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-07-30
HOW THE COUNTY WAS CARRIED.

HOW THE COUNTY WAS CARRIED.
FRAUD, TREACHERY AND BULLDOG |
ING CHARGED IN WASHINGTON co.
Hitherto in this county there has
been a fair and reasonable opportuni-
ty offered to the Democratic voters of
the county to express their wishes at
the primaries, and there has been al
ways a decent regard paid to-their
wishes when so expressed. The late
contest, however, was characterized
by such unusual and unworthy de-
vices in calling and holding the pri-
maries, by such cruel and compulsive
influences of corporation emissaries
and public officials, by such shameless
and notorious treachery and trickery,
resulting in such deliberate subversiOn
of the known and expressed wish of
the people, that it becomes but plain
duty to advertise the people of the
county of the fact and to join our voice
with many indignant citizens in UNI
hesitatingly reprobating and denounc-
ing the transplanting of the noxious
weed of ward politics from Baltimore
city to Washington county.
Primary meetings are farce and a
fraud unless they are held at conven-
lent places, atsuitable hours, after due
notice and with reasonable time for
the people to vote. The essential OBJ
ject is to enable the party voters to
select delegates to represent their
wishes. To win district by cheating
the voters of their privilege is not
smart, but ksaauish. In the domain of
practical politics the ward-rounder or
the district worker who can get del
egationin spite of the majority's pre-
ference, lis hailed as shreaCd politician,
deserving party preferment for his
practical work. Well-founded COM
plants have come from several dis
tricts of rural efforts in this direction,
more or less successful. In one district
the meeting was called from eight to
nine o'clock, Three persons-two of
whom were hungry office-seekers, ac-
est wish gratified, 60 into the room,
effect a hurried organization among
themselves, appoint delegates and
close the meeting, while large num-
Der of recognized party men, who
were on the street in the town, gath
cred for the purpose of voting at the
! primary, were to be denied the priv
ilege by these astute workers. A bona
fide meeting was then regularly Or
ganized and an election fairly held and
delegates sent here to represent the
sentiments of the majority. They
were allowed half vote with the
bogus delegation. In one of the Ha-
gerstown districts novel scene was
witnessed that would have done cred
it to the worst ward in Baltimore
city. A crowd of drunken rowdies
infested the polling place with bad
breath. blatant mouths and swinging
fists, making it disagreeable place
for decent voters to exercise their
rightful privilege. Known Republi-
cans and confessed non-residents were
not only brought to the window in a
drunken condition to practice fraud
upon the qualified voters of the party,
but were returned again with persis.
tent Importantly, after having been
rejected as not entitled to vote.
The Sun could have obtained here
vague but virtuous editorials on the
corrupting and berty-destroying in
fiuence of powerful corporations
Along the canal everything was quiet.
No rumor of a contest was heard ;
many of the employees had made
known their preference in the contest,
} few days before the primaries were
to be held, the pay boat of the canal
company appeared on its well-timed
trip, bearing its president and other
feasting officers. The superintendent
of the House of Correction, formerly
: one of the superintendent of the ca
nal, known to have great influence of
very pure kind along the correspon-
dinghy pure waters Ofthat costly high
way, built primarily for commercial
purposes, used now primarily for po-
: litical purposes, was in the county
before and after the primaries and at
the convention, giving to the manipu-
lation of politics the time and energy
he is paid to devote to the important
institution of which he is placed in
charge. Individual opinion is sup
pressed. The needy and dependent
employees of public corporation con-
trolled by the State of Maryland ars
allowed to earn their bread by becom-
ing political slaves. The fear of the
guilotine makes them surrender to
their tyrannous employers their rights
as freemen. They submissively aban-
don their expressed preferences, and
become the earnest advocates Of a
cause they unwillingly spouse. We
commiserate the condition of the Rus
sian serfs. Is it halfas despicable and
pltiable as that of freemen forced ig-
ANONYMOUSLY at the price of bread for
themselves and their families toyield
the priceless privilege that is the very
essence and substance of freedom? A
people that will tolerate such betray-
al of public trust, such perversion of
delegated authority, and such cruel
enslavement of the unprotected poor,
are themselves yielding to political
drowsiness, and thereby losing that
eternal vigilance which is said to be
the price of liberty. The people of
Washington County shouldindignant-
ly resent the brazen assurance that
assumes to invade their county and
dictate the course they should pursue
in their own affairs.
The primaries over, the result was
conceded. The necessity of the case
required desperate efforts. 1t was
boldly determined to reverse the
Judgment of the people. Promises
and threats were made to give and
take away offices. The most unblush.
ing and contemplate treachery was
instigated and practiced by delegates
VIGOROUSLY elected by their districts
after a contest to support one cause,
and who, in convention, without rea-
son or excuse, stolidly betrayed their
trust and voted for the cause their
people had at the primaries repudi-
ated.
The new experience willnot be dear
ly bought, however, if it serves to
arOIlSn the Damaorafc of tho ooupfx, r.,